Republican Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) and John Mancuso, her Democratic challenger for the East Shore seat, laid out some of their key campaign points before members of the South Beach Civic Association during its October meeting in the Epifanio Parish Center of Holy Rosary R.C. Church, South Beach.

Ms. Malliotakis, a Rosebank resident, described how she used her vote as a minority member of the Assembly to help close the state’s $13.5 billion budget deficit by cutting spending instead of raising taxes. When it comes to spending and budget matters, she described herself as a “voice of opposition, a watchdog for my constituents”

She spoke of her efforts to hold the Port Authority accountable for bridge toll increases, and her fight to get the bi-state agency to make its budget and spending public. She said she would also fight to keep a lid on MTA spending so that “the people of Staten Island don’t get stuck with the bill.”

On higher-education, she said she opposes an Assembly bill that would allow children of illegal immigrants to receive taxpayer-funded tuition aid to attend college in New York state.

“To take taxpayer money in the form of tuition aid away from American citizens and give it to people who are here illegally is wrong,” said Ms. Malliotakis, who was elected in 2010 and is seeking her second term in Albany. She said tuition aid should go first to children of American citizens whose families are struggling financially in the down economy.

Mancuso, a South Beach resident who is making his first run for public office, said he would support the bill. He said granting tuition aid to children of illegal immigrants would help ensure they become “productive, taxpaying citizens.”

Regarding the Port Authority toll increase, Mancuso said he would support a “voucher system” where the Port Authority would subsidize a portion of the toll cost for truckers and commercial vehicles who do business here.

He also said he opposes legislation to extend mayoral control of the city’s public school system. “Our schools are failing because of mayoral control,” said Mancuso.

He said mayoral control of the schools has resulted in a test and data-driven system that has teachers and educators more focused on “the numbers” than the needs of students and teachers. Mancuso said he favors ending mayoral control and “returning control of the system to the local school boards and superintendents who know what’s best for their particular neighborhood schools.”

When it comes to voting with the Democratic majority, Mancuso said he would not be “a Shelly Silver Democrat,” referring to Assembly majority leader Sheldon Silver. “I will be an independent voice for Staten Island,” he vowed.

The civic association board had agreed ahead of time not to field questions for the candidates. “We wanted to provide information to our members, but not get too involved in the election campaigns, as we are not chartered as a political organization” explained South Beach Civic President Joseph McAllister.

Prior to the presentation by candidates, members and guests heard from Staten Island educator and author Dr. David Mercaldo, who talked about his novels, “Ferry” and “Seamstress” which reference the borough, including South Beach. He read an excerpt from “Seamstress” about an Italian family who lived in an apartment located on the corner of “McClean Avenue and Sand Lane.”

“The people I create for my books are like the people we all sat around with on a Sunday. I write about ordinary Italians — not the mob characters — and there’s not a one curse. These are the people who came to Staten Island, to South Beach, with a rich heritage and culture to share,” Mercaldo said.

Mercaldo, who taught at Barnes Intermediate School in Great Kills, also spoke about his latest book “Officers’ Oath” about an Army officer who ultimately went to prison for his efforts to get information from the Army. He donates the proceeds from his book sales to various non-profits and charities, including the Staten Island Alzheimer's Association.